title: Unusual instrument relationship--wrench or turnkey.
abstract: An unknown instrument donated to the dental museum, and resembling a dental extraction key, was identified by a patent number found on the instrument. The patent was issued to A. G. H. Andree in May 1921. It relates to an adjustable wrench that can be placed over and turn objects of different diameters and can be adjusted to be used on the right or left side. It was compared to the dental extraction turnkey that was used from the early 1700's to the early 1900's. The resemblance between the two instruments is remarkable. They look and function in a similar manner. Did the idea for the wrench come from a dental turnkey?
authors.affiliation: Dental Museum, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, Lincoln 68583-0740, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Harn
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D003762:Dental Instruments / Q000266:history*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation